21st Century Challenges

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Professor Tim Jackson
Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey

Professor of Sustainable Development in the Centre for Environmental Strategy (CES) at the University of Surrey. His current research interests include consumer behaviour, sustainable energy systems, ecological economics and environmental philosophy.

In the last twelve years he has pioneered the development of an ‘adjusted’ measure of economic growth – a ‘green GDP’ – for the UK. Since January 2003, Tim has been employed at CES under a research fellowship on the ‘social psychology’ of consumer behaviour.

Prosperity without growth report (PDF) »        Watch Tim Jackson 'Economic reality check' - TED conference 2010 »

What is prosperity without growth? Why is it an important issue?

"a system that grows forever, eventually outgrows it's own environment and we have evidence that is exactly what we are doing"

Can present form of capitalism deliver a sustainable future?

"this form of capitalism we have at the
moment has to be radically revised"

Why don't more of us live sustainably?

"we have an institutional architecture driving us in completely the wrong direction"

Can companies persuade us to live and consumer more sustainably?

"you have to think in terms of changing and transforming supply chains in ethical ways before companies can claim to change people's behaviour"

Do we lack a shared vision of what a sustainable future looks like?

"if we offer a vision that is all about limits and constraints and foregoing the benefits of modern technology, it's never going to happen"

Who can lead and inspire change needed to make Britain more sustainable?

"leaders of social change often emerge from quite marginalised groups"

"government needs to provide the infrastructure and opportunity for ordinary people to create their own leadership"